Humanities (Audio)

The human brain has a larger mass with respect to body weight, increased cortical neurons with respect to size, an expanded proliferative zone, and unique connectivity patterns. Human-specific neurodevelopment is not only marked by physical differences, but also by temporal changes. Human neurons, during both prenatal neurodevelopment and adult neurogenesis, exhibit an exceptionally delayed time course, a characteristic termed neoteny. Signatures of human-specific neoteny have been observed and reproduced across different systems including induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and brain organoids models. We compared neurogenesis across stem cells from five primate species - rhesus, gorilla, bonobo, chimpanzee, human - and assessed the differences in transcriptional dynamics. We identified a pioneer transcription factor, GATA3, that exhibited elevated neuronal expression only in humans. This finding provides evidence for the divergence of gene regulation as a contributor to human neoteny. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38301]

How do we move from purpose to action? Fundación Tú Más Yo focuses on community development through education and collaboration. Toñe Beguerisse and Dalia Rodriguez speak with Morgan Appel about how they implement programs and work directly with communities to create change. Series: "Education Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 38414]

Fake news. Misinformation. Disinformation. The role of journalism in society has never been more important. So what's the future of news in a country deeply suspicious of information? Veteran journalists Kevin Merida, Los Angeles Times executive editor, and Donna Britt, author and Washington Post syndicated columnist, talk about the state of news and information. The discussion is moderated by Point Loma Nazarene University journalism professor Dean Nelson. This event is supported by the UC San Diego Helen Edison Lecture Series which offers free public lectures that advance humanitarian purposes and objectives. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38462]

A look at reading old age with Dr. Louise Aronson, a leading geriatrician, writer, educator, professor of medicine at UCSF and the author of the New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, and Reimagining Life. Series: "Critically Human" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37077]

Production designer Chae Kyoung-Sun discusses with moderator Rita Raley and interpreter Eunjin Choi her design work for the TV sensation, Squid Game. Kyoung-Sun goes into detail on her design process, all the way from her initial ideas and discussions with her creative collaborators to how the final products were built and used on set. She discusses how her collaborations with the director, cinematographer, and other design departments completed the iconic look of Squid Game, such as the pink and green color scheme and the final design of the guards’ masks. Kyoung-Sun also recounts the hidden meanings and influences in her designs that reflect the hierarchies of the world of Squid Game as well as evoke cultural references like children’s games, school tracksuits, and fairy tales. Apart from Squid Game, Kyoung-Sun reflects on her early influences that inspired her to work in production design, which involved going to see films with her parents starting from a young age. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38312]

On March 4th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address. He considered it his “greatest speech” and his “best effort." Join Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss and best-selling Lincoln biographer Dr. Ronald C. White for a fascinating look at the Second Inaugural Address. Through a powerful, fascinating voyage of discovery, one comes away with a better understanding of where the country was in 1865 and Lincoln’s feeling towards the Civil War, the defeated Confederacy and, perhaps most importantly, American slavery. A century and a half later, as the U.S. faces a similar struggle over who we are as a people and a nation, Lincoln's speech still resonates. [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38385]

Our ability to speak helps us define who we are and how we process the world around us. Strokes have both physical and mental impacts, especially when they impede our ability to speak. In this program, Brian Dolan, Ph.D., talks about his research on the importance of speech, including talking to oneself, and the challenges that can follow a stroke. Series: "Critically Human" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37076]

As humans have evolved, so has our ability to drastically alter the planet we call home. In this collection of talks from the CARTA symposium, "Humans: The Planet-Altering Apes" you will learn about specific examples on how humans have changed Earth and what can be done to prevent its cataclysmic demise. David Holway addresses the challenges of emerging invasive species in our ecosystem. Oliver Ryder discusses the accelerated rate of loss of species due to human activities. Patricia Hunt talks about how human made chemicals and pollutants are impacting global fertility rates. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38207]

In this program, Emily Lin, with the UC Merced Library, explains the process of digging into archives, including a look at how archives are created, where to look and what to expect to find, and strategies and possibilities for research. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38279]

In this program, Erica-Kohl Arenas, Ph.D., discusses the lessons learned so far in her research on how to transform higher education to better support public engagement in academia and shares her personal journey as an engaged scholar. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 38281]